Review: Vegan Tasty Bite Meal Pouches

23rd November 2013

Occasionally we need a quick and easy meal that’s also hearty and delicious. Tasty Bite Meal Pouches tick all the boxes because they are packed full of flavor and extremely easy to prepare. Heat one up for yourself, two for a couple or heat even more up for a bit of a feast. It’s that easy.

Tasty Bite produces a variety of convenient vegetarian meal pouches, many of which are vegan. While Tasty Bite primarily offers Indian cuisine including rices, meal inspirations and entrees, they also offer Asian noodle pouches. All Tasty Bite Meal Pouches have two easy methods of preparation, with instructions included for both stovetop and microwave methods of reheating. Making Tasty Bite even more convenient there is no refrigeration needed and an 18-month shelf-life. But Tasty Bite pouches aren’t just convenient, they are also all-natural, preservative free, MSG free, GMO free, kosher and a variety are even Gluten Free. We love the packaging because it’s compact and durable (and easy to pack for travel) but we especially appreciate their commitment to clearly labeling their products, making it incredibly easy to determine which ones are Vegan and Gluten Free.

about

Launched in 1995, Tasty Bite offers vegan and vegetarian Indian entrées, Asian noodles, rices, and meal inspirations. All their products require no cooking, contain no preservatives and require no refrigeration. The company is deeply commited to helping communities in both US and India. They have a scholarship fund for the education of the children of their factory workers and a disaster relief program wehre food is moved to provide relief. 80% of the energy used in their factory comes from renewable sources such as sugarcane byproducts and food and crop waste.

available in

All products are vegan, natural, Kosher, MSG-free and GMO-free. They don’t contain preservatives. They have 18-month shelf life. Their pouches are BPA-free.

where to buy

the verdict

Tasty Bite: Kung Pao (Asian Noodles)

Received a 8.8 oz. pouch (at retail value $3.29). It’s vegan, NON-GMO, and kosher. A 1/2 serving of the pouch contains 7 grams of protein and 220 calories, or 440 calories per pouch. It requires one minute to heat, however due to different oven settings, I microwaved for 1 minute and 15 minutes.

This review is provided by an “omnivore.” Kung Pao has good texture from the vegetables and dry noodles, tastes faintly spicy, and a flavorful sauce. The fresh green scallions are a nice addition. It’s very quick for what it is! Their wheat noodles are firm, not soggy at all, which I like about.

Tasty Bite: Pad Thai (Asian Noodles)

Received a 8.8 oz. pouch (at retail value $3.29). It’s vegan, NON-GMO, and kosher. A 1/2 serving of the pouch contains 8 grams of protein and 250 calories, or 500 calories per pouch, which is the highest of the bunch we’ve sampled. It requires one minute to heat, however due to different oven settings, I microwaved for 1 minute and 15 minutes.

The noodles somewhat taste and remind me of a stir-fried Malaysian or Singaporean noodle rather than a pad thai. Their wheat noodles are firm, not soggy at all. There is a noticeable texture from vegetables (baby corn) and peanuts. The noodles are mildly spicy, but still tasty. I added some fresh green scallions, and they are a nice addition if you have them around. The noodles from the whole pouch is surprisingly filling for an individual. Both the Kung Pao and Pad Thai products used the same wheat noodles and vegetables such as onions, carrots, baby corn and water chestnuts. For pad thai, would it make sense to use rice noodles, some chopped firm tofu for a bit of texture, perhaps some bean sprouts?

Our favorites of the vegan Tasty Bite Rice & Entree category are the Thai Lime Rice and Channa Masala. We are both amazed by the texture and the flavors of the grain-based pouches. The mildly spiced Channa Masala pairs well any sorts of rice, the Thai Lime Rice or the Garlic Brown Rice.

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About VM

Rika & Doni run the vegan food and travel blog Vegan Miam. They love bold, global flavors and have a passion for crafting plant-based recipes inspired by their travels. They aren’t afraid of some funk and fermentation and certainly enjoy a healthy measure of spices.